Historic zoning commission approves demolition and new Franklin City Hall design; completion targeted for fall 2027

The Historic Zoning Commission on Jan. 13 approved the concept for demolition of the existing building at 109 Third Avenue South and the design of a new civic building and attached commercial component that together will complete a planned public-square geometry in downtown Franklin.

Staff summarized a multi-year process during which the design team and the Design Review Committee met repeatedly to refine a scheme that aligns the new city hall’s front wall with the historic Williamson County Courthouse and steps the building massing from three stories at the square down to two stories toward the residential character of nearby Third Avenue and Church Street. Staff described the new design as a roughly 97,000-square-foot civic building with a roughly 4,500-square-foot commercial portion fronting Third Avenue South, differentiated with multiple brick colors, limestone accents and window paneling to reduce perceived massing. Staff indicated that window specifications and some detailed elements will be brought back to the DRC for review.

Studio 8 Design principal Anna Ruth Kimbrough, representing the design team, described the project’s public process and noted the design’s intent to "maintain the delicate balance between preservation and progress." Kimbrough thanked the DRC, staff and consultants for input and noted the park and fountain design will return at a later date for more-detailed review.

Commissioners discussed materials, landscape and the park; one commissioner asked whether the limestone elements would be real stone or cast — the team confirmed they would be real limestone. Commissioners raised some stylistic comments (for example, lack of precedent for curved steps downtown) but overall praised the extensive iterative work and judged the project had reached an appropriate design balance. The commission moved to approve the application with staff-recommended conditions; the motion passed by voice vote.

A completion target was noted in the meeting: when asked about schedule, staff or the applicant answered "Fall 2027" as the proposed completion date.

Why it matters: The project would replace a noncontributing former city-hall building with a large civic building intended to repair the geometry of the public square, add a one-acre park with a fountain and create new commercial frontage and public amenities in downtown Franklin.

Next steps: The design team will return with detailed window specifications, the fountain and trellis plans and additional DRC-level review of particular materials and landscape elements. Demolition and detailed construction permitting will follow the design-review approvals.